Key Questions to ask your Venue

Obviously, the first question is – Is your venue available on the required date?

But when you are trying to select a venue for your wedding, forgetting to ask an important question could mean you end up selecting a venue that is missing a key element or costs you more than you first thought.

Below I have listed lots of relevant questions. I suggest you try and ask as many of them as possible to cover all possibilities. Your circumstances may change and questions that seem not important now may prove to be extremely important once your big day comes around.

Is your venue easy to find for guests?

Is your venue licensed to carry out civil weddings?

Will ours be the only wedding at your venue on our wedding day?

How many people can you accommodate?

How many car parking spaces are available?

Do you allow confetti to be thrown at the venue?

Do you allow candles to be lit in the reception room?

Do you have a noise limiter fitted or can we turn the music all the way up?

Are there any bedrooms over the dance floor?

Do you allow professional firework displays at your venue?

Do you offer the option of a marquee?Are there separate rooms provided for the wedding, reception, meal, evening reception, etc?

Is there a room provided for the use of “wedding couple” for the day?

Is there a dressing room that the bride and bridesmaids can use prior to the ceremony?

When can we have access to begin setting up the room in terms of decorating it with balloons, flowers, banners, etc? (Morning of wedding, day before, etc?)

If the evening reception is being held in a room that is being used for something else earlier in the day, do you require the DJ/Band to set-up their equipment beforehand?

Is there an area that could be used as a crèche if needed?

Is there a quieter area for older guests to get away from the noise of a band/DJ?

If rooms are available for overnight accommodation, how many?

What are the costs for overnight accommodation? Is there a special rate for wedding guests?

Is breakfast included?

What is the checkout time the following day?

Do you have a room where you are able to store wedding presents until you are able to collect them and are you insured for any loss or damage to these presents?

Do you insist on doing all the catering?

Can you supply examples of suggested menus along with prices?

Do you include a cake stand and knife if required?

Do you have a preferred order of service (when and where do we cut the cake)?

What time do you offer an alcohol license until?

What time do you insist the reception finishes by?

Do you insist on supplying the wine and champagne?

If we are able to supply the wine, what do you charge for corkage?

Can we offer alcohol as favours? (some venues don’t allow miniatures which are popular favours)

Can you recommend preferred suppliers e.g. flowers, djs, photography, etc? Do you have promotional discounts with them?

I hope you can use this list to secure the venue of your dreams and that it helps inspire other questions you might want to ask.
Happy Planning!